Bhendi Bazar: Amid the deaths of four of a family that consumed watermelon last week had impacted the price of watermelon by a drop to as low as Rs 7 per kg at Navi Mumbai fruit market.
Despite being widely consumed during the summer, demand has fallen at the Navi Mumbai APMC, one of Asia’s largest wholesale agricultural markets. Traders are facing severe financial losses due to price fall which has now ranged between Rs 5 to Rs 7 per kilogram. The fruit is usually sold at wholesale prices which is Rs 10-35 per/kg, while the retail prices range between Rs 30 and Rs 100 per/kg.
Abdullah Dokadia (40), his wife Nasreen (35) and two daughters – Ayesha (16) and Zaineb (13), residents of South Mumbai, ate watermelon slices after a get-together where even other guests were also present at their house on Saturday. All four family members suffered severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhea and within hours, the four were rushed to nearby hospital. However, they all were declared dead during the treatment.
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A forensic team combed the Dokadia residence on Tuesday in order to collect samples of every food item that they constituted during the family meal, including the chicken pulav, watermelon, water and other food which was then sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory.
After the autopsies were conducted, a preliminary report confirmed that the four deaths were caused due to food poisoning.
However, the matter is still under investigation. Police Department is also looking at their financial and mental health angle. Any kind of stress that may have led to suicidal deaths or even Abdullah’s bank statements are also under scrutiny to know whether he was under stress because of financial condition.
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